A Most Clever Girl Book Review and Giveaway

Book Review and GIVEAWAY

A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Found Her Voice
Written by Jasmine A. Stirling
Illustrated by Vesper Stamper
Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, March 30, 2021

Review
I was thrilled to participate in this blog tour because I am an Austen fan. I hated Pride and Prejudice in high school – didn't even finish it. Then I got into Molly Harper's Half Moon Hollow series years later, where the vampire former librarian is all about Austen. I decided to give her another go and saw that my dumping of her work had been a clear, "It's not you, it's me," situation. As a more mature reader with a wider literary appetite, I devoured all of her books...back to back, staying up till the wee hours and lounging in bed in the mornings until I had finished her major works in the course of a few days. (I was a teacher on summer vacation, so I had the time.) The prospect of introducing T to Austen's work early on holds high appeal, so I jumped at A Most Clever Girl. 

It is all that! Readers follow along Austen's writing journey, from her unusual education (namely, having one at all), her disdain for fluff stories, her creation of humorous tales for her family, her years of writer's block, and her eventual publication of several novels. Between the pictures and the text, young readers are invited into a very real world where an ordinary person encounters trials and joys and decides to pursue an interest – Jane Austen is relatable. As an Austen fan, I was delighted to learn more about her life and introduce her to T. As a parent I'm pleased to share a real-life example of someone who successfully followed a passion, encountering stumbling blocks before succeeding. Stirling's tone is straightforward, never condescending and her prose magical. Readers are whisked away to 1800's England and enchanted by Stamper's art. Whether you like Austen or not, I recommend checking this out – A Most Clever Girl is a lovely book in its own right.

A very neat aspect of the narrative is the quotations from Austen's own works. Within the text they are italicized; back matter identifies the sources. Further information about Austen's life is provided as well.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY (click that blue link above)
Enter for a chance to win a glorious Jane Austen-themed picnic basket, including a hardcover copy of A Most Clever Girl autographed by Jasmine A. Stirling!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:
- A picnic basket filled with:
- A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling
- A vintage teacup
- 1 oz of tea From Adagio Teas
- Truffles from Moonstruck Chocolates
- Gardenia hand cream
- A set of Jane Austen playing cards
- A $15 gift certificate to Jasmine A. Stirling’s Austenite Etsy Shop, Box Hill Goods

Two (2) winners receive:
- A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling

The giveaway begins March 16, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT, and ends April 16, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I hereby disclose partnership with The Children's Book Review and Jasmine A. Stirling.